I have really been working on Balance since the beginning of the year (ok.. I know that I am only 2 weeks in!) but I have been making a huge effort to take time to shut down in the evening, using my time wisely during the day, and enjoying getting outside when I can. One of my new favorite things about Monday (yes, I have a favorite thing about Mondays!) is the new podcast I am a part of.
We often talk about a working lunch, that is exactly what EdTech Chat n' Chew is! Every Monday I have the chance to spend my lunch virtually eating with some amazing educators from around the United States and chatting about the cool things we are doing in school, sharing ideas, and just sharing some great rapid fire conversation. Dyane Smokorowski, Mike Soskil, Karen Wright-Balbier and myself have a passion for creating change in our current jobs, but also understand how important a teachers time is.
The EdTech Chat n' Chew is only about 15-25 minutes (perfect timing for some professional development during lunch time) You can find the videos on our webpage, we are also on iTunes and of course you can find us on Facebook
Things you can look forward to from our podcast:
-Ideas that you can take right back to your classroom and use
-Ways to connect with other classrooms
-A place to grow your professional learning network
and so much more!
I am always so thankful for the people that I connect with and can call friends (even when I haven't had a chance to meet them in person). Mike wrote a great blog about it here. Just from the few times we have recorded our show I have already gotten ideas to use in my school. I can't wait to learn even more from these amazing educators (and share the great things that we are doing in our school)
Do you have some favorite podcasts? I have about 3 that I listen to all the time (great for roadtrips and walking!) Techlandia Eduallstars The Tech Chicks
I have spent several blogs writing about the Tech Challenges that I created for my staff, and I have also shared the Techformers Unite challenges. I had teachers participating in the challenges, but I also was getting feedback that the challenges were too broad or didn't cover the subject the teachers were working on. Looking back at my challenges, this made complete sense! My overall goal for my challenges is to give teachers easy tools to quickly and easily use in their classroom... then as they get more comfortable be willing to try new things, or offer the opportunity for students to use various tools to produce items. So, I set out on another mission! I still plan to have my 4 challenges with the same rewards. My non-negotiable has changed the wording to Encouraged (not as threatening) and now my challenges have the main challenge, how to complete the challenge for every grade level, and ideas to use if you don't teach the subject in the challenge (but still use the same tool)
The challenge
Activities to do with each grade level or ideas for subject
Where you can get more information
I am super excited to send these out to staff! I realize that not everyone has the time to do various activities. I want teachers to feel successful in what they are doing. Hopefully this will increase the Tech Challenge usage and start more conversations with me. Are you part of Techformers Unite? Do you challenge the teachers/adults you work with to try new things?
On another note, my blogs have been sporadic lately as I have grown into my new position. I am going to go back to blogging every Monday (of course, there will be other blogs in between, but I want to make sure that I am sharing at least once a week)
Each Monday will be a different theme
Make it Monday- I love crafting, so I will share something that I have either created for school or home
Movie Monday- Since I am not in a classroom, this might change a little. These videos will more than likely change to more of how to videos
Mail Call Monday- I am always looking for guest bloggers! Want to be featured one month? Email me at akbusybee@gmail.com or have a question you want answered... I can do that too!
Magnificent Monday- A Monday where I will share one of my favorite tools, apps, or ideas
Every year we sit down and make resolutions. I have thrown out the ideas for resolutions a long time ago.. I create a vision/dream board at the first of the year. I wrote about our Dream/Vision board last year here and here. A recap of this years adventures for our Dream/Vision board is here (now realize, that with dreams and vision they tend to be a little more personal)
The first challenge of the 2014 year for Techformers Unite: Your Challenge: Create a vision board or goal board for the new year! This can be education based or more personal. (I love picmonkey by the way.. what a cool program!)
Why did I choose Balance? As I look at myself in the mirror I realize I am a very intense person (happy with who I am) but I want to be involved in EVERYTHING! I do a pretty good job of being involved in everything... but there are nights where I don't sleep much because my brain doesn't shut down or as crazy as it might seem I get overwhelmed. So, this year my word is going to be Balance.
Balance at Work- understand that it is okay to say no to certain things. This might be one of the hardest things to accomplish as I love being involved in everything! So, when I get overwhelmed I am going to look back at my word of BALANCE, step back and reorganize my time. Things I will need to balance on at work: Destination ImagiNation, my role as Instructional Technology Specialist, my role on the Campus Improvement Committee, and my role as a member of the school PTA board and Council PTA board. This seems like a ton to balance, but if I put my mind to it, I know that I will be able to.
Balance at Home- This is probably where I will need the most work on for balancing. Once I get home I enjoy spending my time on social media, playing mindless games, or watching TV. Oh and I also need to balance my Jamberry business too. I want to have a more balanced self at home, where I have time to workout for an hour, read books and enjoy spending time being unplugged. The unplugged part is going to be the hardest, but one that I really want to work on this year! How I might accomplish this: set a time aside each day to be plugged in (to work on Techformers Unite, Jamberry, EdTech Chat and Chew, blogging, Tweeting, Instagram, and other social media outlets) but then shut down... and be okay with shutting down! The world will not end if I do not answer that email, that Facebook request, or that notification on Twitter.
Balance with Self- I am very lucky with all the things that I have accomplished in these last few years. I have a wonderful family near and far, amazing support system and a roof over my head. Just like everyone there are things that I want to accomplish. I am a lister and an organizer. Sometimes my list end up being pages long (I finish them, but at what cost?) In the past I have attempted the 3 things (where I list 3 things that I must finish each day) This year I am going to work on more Balance with myself and have 5 things that I must accomplish each day. The world will not end if I do not finish everything in one day, I will still go on living and still be a great contributing member to society.
What are your goals and dreams for this year? Do you have a word for the year? How do you plan to accomplish your dreams and goals?
P.S.- I my biggest dream for the year- to find balance and peace in my life so I might have the chance to become a mom.
If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter you might have noticed that my feed has been taken over my new favorite thing right now! Being a teacher I didn't have time or the funds to get my nails done, but I tried on Jamberry this summer in July, and my nails have not been naked since!
-I LOVE how many designs there are! I could do a simple color, add accent nails, or even design my own. (I am also in love with the Nail Lacquer Line that is now available- the strengthening basecoat under my wraps are awesome)
-Since they are wraps, I don't have to worry about being uncoordinated in painting my nails
-They are so affordable!
-A manicure can last about 2 weeks and a pedicure about a month
-I can put them on while watching TV using the fantastic Mini Heater
-My nails look great even after I take them off.
Excuse the super short fingernail (weekend causality) but check out how good my real nail looks and I have been wearing Jamberry for over 5 months!
To celebrate the end of 2013 I am hosting a Jamberry Giveaway! Just do the super simple activities listed below. A winner of the $15 eGiftcard will be drawn on Tuesday December 31st at noon.
Are you interested in hosting a catalog party, face 2 face party or Facebook party? Let me know! I would love for you to earn the awesome Hostess gifts! Interested in joining my team and becoming a consultant? I can help you there too!
You might have noticed that I am sort of on a Tech Challenge kick lately. I LOVE using technology (shhh.. I know this is a shocker!) and I want to help teachers see how easy it is to use in the classroom. One of the main reasons I wanted to become a Instructional Technology Specialist was so I could begin to affect even more people (students and staff) I have loved how the challenges are going over in my school, so I decided to branch out! I put a plea out to my Facebook friends, and I had 9 fabulous friends say they were interested in helping with Tech Challenges. With LeaAnne, Dave, Robin, Helen, Mindi, Aimee, Jeremy, Sheila, Jan, Jennifer and myself the Techformers Unite group was formed. "As educators (of any form or fashion) we are constantly saving the world through various challenges! Join the Techformers Unite team to boldly take on technology challenges that increases the use of these tools in your classroom. If you are ready to be a part of the Techformers Unite group, you just need to join our group and start attempting the various challenges! These challenges can be completely done by you, or you can do them with the students that you work with! Remember that any challenges you complete and post about need to comply with your schools/district rules for posting pictures/information. You are in charge of keeping up with what challenges you complete when you fill out the Google Form at the end of the month! On other social media? Share using #TechformersU"
Our idea:
Create various challenges for each month that could be accomplished by teachers and even be carried over to the classroom.
We started with the 12 days of Techmas
For the month of December there will be 12 challenges. You can find the challenges on the Weebly and also on our Facebook Page At the end of each month we will post a Google form where participants can post what challenges they completed that month (there might be prizes involved!) The challenges do not have to be done in any certain order, but people can share their completed challenges by posting in the comments of the challenge on the Facebook page or sharing through social media using #techformersU. You can also find our Twitter account at TekFormersUnite
Now, we are currently in an icemageddon going on in the DFW area, so I am sure that that might have some impact this weekend on how many challenges get done.
The first challenge (posted this morning 12/9/13) ended up with over 70 wonderful word clouds that different people created over their favorite holiday song. Not only that, but I hadn't even posted the full challenge and people were already posting their challenges.
Are you up for the challenge? Find our group Techformers Unite and learn some new tools and tricks. In the process you will also have a chance to meet some amazing people! I am So excited to see where these challenges will take us! I am even more excited that I am able to collaborate with even more people over things that I love. Cindy Wallace wrote a great blog about our Techformers Unite Challenges here
Tomorrow is another bad weather day (this ice is crazy), but we are pairing up classes for the #kidwish project!
I hope you will join in our Techformers Unite challenges. December has 12, but the rest of the months will be only 4 or 5. How do you increase technology use on your campuses? How do you get teachers excited to use technology in the classroom?
The first part of this year I worked on finding my place in my new role. So many ideas.. so little time.. but not wanting to crazily overwhelm people that I work with either! So, I don't think my to-do list will ever get completely done (it never did when I was a teacher either) but there are some of the coolest projects that are coming up!
We are pairing Special Needs Classrooms with Regular Education classrooms to share holiday cards and also New Years wishes! We are pairing up classrooms on Thursday December 5, 2013 for this first round! Sign up at http://kidwish.weebly.com/ (special ed friends.. this is a GREAT chance to collaborate!) We are going to have more projects throughout the year, but this is a great start.
12 Days of Technology
I have LOVED creating the Tech Challenges for my staff... and the conversation it is sparking. So, I put it on Facebook looking for people to collaborate to create holiday tech challenges. Be watching for information on how you too can participate!
Do you have any projects in the works? I hope you take a moment to vote for our tree.. and sign up to participate in #kidwish!
Every year the Irving Arts Center has a tree decorating contest. This year the theme is Navidad Latinoamerica! As soon as the theme was announced last year, I knew how I wanted to decorate it! Then during the summer I learned about Aurasma from Two Guys and some iPads and Todd Nesloney, and I knew what else I wanted to do with the tree! Thanks to my partner in crime Alex Alkire (aka AMAZING Art Teacher) we were on a mission! So, our tree is themed as a giant Spanish skirt.
Although our tree looks awesome (if I do say so myself!) what is even better is it is INTERACTIVE! Each picture that is on the tree is tagged with an Aura.
I watched this video about a hundred times. Aurasma is an amazing app, but there are definitely some tricks (and it is also awesome... but when you are working with 50+ pictures it is also a little more time consuming than I planned)
What I did:
-Take a picture of a student (I tried really hard to get 2 from each class in the school, but I ran out of time)
-I asked the student to say this sentence I am from ____ and during the holidays we ____
-Downloaded these pictures on my computer (you can use Aurasma through the iPad/device, but then only that iPad/device is able to see the Aura)
-VERY IMPORTANT-I had to edit each picture so the pixels were 480x640
-I then followed the directions that were listed in the above videos and the rest that were on Drew Minock's Youtube channel (oh and I bugged Todd about a hundred times!)
-I created a channel called Elliott Christmas Tree and put all of the pictures and videos that channel.
-During our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration I also took video of students doing traditional dances. After they danced I took a group photo.
At the foot of our Christmas tree I also included this picture how to
Now. I realize that not everyone is going to download the app and interact with our tree.
Our note about the ornaments at the base of the Christmas tree is this:
The traditions of Latin America are so rich! Between the colors, stories, traditions and
food Latin America boasts wonderful ways to celebrate the season.
Elliott Elementary chose to showcase 4 different Latin American
locations. Our tree has the embodiment
of a Folklorico dancer’s skirt. Her
skirt carries hand crafted ornaments that the Mini Davinci’s created to represent the different areas. All the picture ornaments
will come to life after you follow the directions for downloading the Aurasma app.
Ecuador is represented by the
fans (Aventador) which are found all over Ecuador and are made by the local
Indian groups.
Puerto Ricois represented by the
Three Kings. Three Kings Day/Epiphany
celebrates the Three Wise Men’s visit to see the newborn Christ by exchanging
gifts.
Mexicois
represented on our tree by the poinsettias are native to Latin America
especially in the Southern Mexico region.
El Salvador is represented by the Roman Candles. Families in El Salvador celebrate by playing
with sparklers and fireworks during the holiday season.
There are so many regions and areas to
celebrate during the holiday season. A
large part of celebrating is joining family members for food and
fellowship. The pictures on our tree
represent different areas across the world!
Students shared where they were from and what they eat during the
holiday season.
Our school celebrates the rich
traditions of Latin America by having a Hispanic Heritage Celebration every
year. The group pictures around our tree
will also come to life by using the Aurasma app.
We hope you enjoy your journey through
various Latin American traditions and will dance your way through the holidays!
